CBI – August 1945

Roundup Staff ArticleCALCUTTA – A legendary sports figure, remembered by the current generation through record books and faded newspaper clippings of several decades ago, Indian Jim Thorpe, often described as the all-time greatest of all athletes, made a surprise visit to Calcutta this week.
Thorpe, 57 years old, didn’t come in with a lot of fanfare, he was on no USO tour. Instead, the man who was the superman of the 1912 Olympic Games at Stockholm, quietly arrived here as a member of the Merchant Marine and when discovered in the City by the Sea he was at work on the docks.
When friends urged him to appear for the G.I.’s here, Thorpe obliged. He attended the opening night of the volleyball tourney, made a radio appearance and toured local American hospitals. The veteran athlete got a big thrill from talking with youngsters who had come to regard the early-century hero as a myth, and little expected to see him taking an active part in the war as a Merchant Mariner.
Thorpe’s visit brought to mind many exploits and tales of the famous American Indian, who entered Carlisle Institute in 1904 and under Glenn (Pop) Warner’s direction became the star all-around athlete. Thorpe’s career reached a climax in 1912 when he carved a permanent niche in sports history by becoming the first man ever to win the Pentathlon and Decathlon events.
Recently, Arthur Daley in his New York Times sports column, stated that the “almost legendary Thorpe was the greatest athlete that America, a land of great athletes, ever produced.”
Thorpe’s athletic skill was exercised in many sports. John McGraw signed him to a Giant baseball contract, he played pro football, helping to organize the National Pro League 25 years ago. He played a low handicap game of golf, bowled with the champions and knew no sport that denied him the right to be classed an expert.
But that was long ago. Life hasn’t been too kind to Jim Thorpe down through the years and his fortune never matched his skill. Some months ago Jim decided to “get in the war.” All the regular military services scoffed at this veteran hero, and only in the Merchant Marine did he find himself acceptable. So, today Thorpe is a happier man – he’s back in the game.

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MANCHURIA: RED ARMY, 1945.Soviet troops in Harbin in Manchuria, after their victory over the Japanese occupation troops, 1945.

The Soviet Union declared war on Japan 8 August 1945

Russian Armies Push Deep Into Korea And Manchuria As Nipponese Quit

Roundup Staff Article

Acting with their usual speed and power, Soviet Armies wasted little time in pushing into Manchuria and Korea this week after Russia declared war against the tottering Japanese August 8.
Breaking through at several points along a 300-mile line from Hutou to Hunchun the Russian steamroller reported only “moderate” to “meager” opposition, despite previous stories that the Japs had their best armies in the area. The Reds attacked both the East and West borders of Manchuria and into Korea, indicating a giant pincers operation.
Within three days after the declaration of war, Soviet troops had fought their way more than 200 miles inside Jap-held territory, with the main attack down the Chinese Far Eastern Railway. The railway town of Hailon was reported captured and heavy fighting is in progress beyond the Khingan foothills, natural barrier protecting the important Nip arsenal and rail center of Harbin. Soviet columns are within 350 miles of Harbin.

1,000,000 SOVIET TROOPS
On Sakhahn Island the Red Army has penetrated Jap territory and “fierce fighting is in progress” according to the Nips. The Russians, however, have said nothing about their activity in this area.
Russian marines, protected by the Soviet Fleet, poured ashore on Korea, capturing the Nip naval base at Rashin.

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About GP Cox

Everett Smith served with the Headquarters Company, 187th Regiment, 11th A/B Division during WWII. This site is in tribute to my father, "Smitty."
GPCox is a member of the 11th Airborne Association. Member # 4511 and extremely proud of that fact!

IMO, Thorpe was truly the best athlete of the 20th Century! This is not enough….
After Thorpe died in 1953, his third wife, Patricia, became enraged when Oklahoma officials would not erect a memorial in his honor. She had heard that two small communities in Pennsylvania — Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk — were collecting nickels to help start a revitalization movement.

Mrs. Thorpe and local officials of the soon-to-be-merged communities agreed to have Thorpe’s remains interred at a mausoleum at the eastern end of town on Route 903.

The monument consists of his tomb, two statues of Thorpe in athletic poses and historical markers describing his remarkable life story. His resting place has been placed on soil from his native Oklahoma and from the Stockholm Olympic Stadium where he achieved everlasting fame.

It would have been quite a strain on them to keep a full army supplied. Moscow to the Pacific is over 9,000 miles with little transportation facilities, so I really could not even take an educated guess.

This bloke was lucky, he didn’t get a chance to go through the tunnel,like so many others.

There were 50 not so lucky, they got caught and shot by the Gerries.

Must have been pretty nerve racking non the less for a 26 year old to be sitting waiting for the instruction to ‘GO’, he sat in that queue, for over an hour, before the escape got busted and all hell broke loose

What I knew about Jim Thorpe came from my athletic brother as a child. He talked about him as if he were a legend, apparently he really was! Thank you. Also enjoyed the Soviet Union post, especially now as they are rather sneaky about making Middle East allies.

I’ve never lived to see Russia not being sneaky. Your brother was quite right, Thorpe was unequaled. The fact that he had received a $30 payment for room and board to play in another town was deemed enough to make his status a professional athlete and he had to give up all his Olympic medals, including the personal ones he received, such as that from the King of Sweden. His was a very sad story.

Two names that I’ve been familiar with throughout my life were Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner (because of the kids’ football league). I never would have guessed that they had a relationship. In fact, I never thought much about Pop Warner being a real person! There were a lot of details here I didn’t know about Thorpe’s career. I’d always associated him only with football. How I missed some of those other achievements, I don’t know. Thanks for sharing them, GP.